The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-01-08
AN EARTHouAKE.
Mysterious Noises and Shaking Of Houses
Indicative of An Earthquake.


was observed by four ladies and gentlemen,
and perhaps others, aud the time was about
! 80 O clock. This form of halo was noticed
some years ago, as we are informed by .
gentleman then living in Washington, and the
appearance was so singular that 1t caused
considerable comment at the time.
On Sunday morning, between and 5
o'clock, Mr. f. B. Grammer, was awakened
by the shaking of his house. The day was
clear, and in the afternoon Mr.. and Mrs.
William Moore saw flash Of lightning, fol
lowed by rumbling sound as OF thunder.
The flash was in the southern sky, and Mrs.
Moore saw similar flash again on Tuesday
afternoon, in the same direction.
On Sunday night very many people were
awakened from sleep by noises and the shak-
! ing of their houses. Few at the time thought
of an earthquake, but in relating experiences:
the next day the general opinion obtained
that all was due to seismic disturbance. A
few held to the opinion that the sounds and
shakings were due to the cracking OF the ice
ON the ground and on the roofs, but the idea
was not long maintained in the face of the
general belief to the contrary.
Congressman Shaw was awakened by
sound as of an explosion deep down III the
earth, and for the moment concluded that
either an attack was being made on the safe
doors away. or that an explosion had occur
red in the drug store of A. H. Huber, ad-
joining.
were aroused, and picture fell from the
wall.
Il. Vanderford heard two loud noises, as
though his son in an adjoining room was rap
ping on the wall to arouse visitor who was
to 20 off on an early train. He then 1elt the
house shake, and got up. Observing the
time, go a. M, and knowing 1t was 100
early to rise for the train, he settled to the
idea that the disturbance was due to an earth
quake, and communicated his experiences
and impressions to the family at breakfast.
Hon. Charles B. Roberts was awakened by
noise which sounded to him as if someone
was breaking into his house. This was soon
followed by a louder report which, he says.
resembled the blasting of rocks.
The families of Samuel Z. Everhart, j. A.
Mitchell, l.. C. Trumbo, Milton Swartzbaugh,
L. j. Lawyer, j. H. Rinker, and various
others were awakened i'll the night and re-
lated similar experiences to those given
above.
From the experiences related, there must
have been succession of disturbances, from
IL. 80 Sunday night until $50 Monday morn
ing.
On Monday night there were more earth
ouake shocks, about the same hours as on
Sunday night
VIM. H. Thomas, Esq, was aroused by the
sound as if some one had struck the front
door heavily with bag of meal. Hearing no
further noise, he thought that perhaps there
had been an explosion in his stove. de got
an and went into his office, bnt everything
appeared as he had left it. The guests at
the Montour House and Anchor Hotel were
awakened by ;he house shaking, and con
siderable number OF persons in private houses
were also aroused
On Tuesday morning there were slight
shocks at Charleston and Summerville, South
Carolina. and also at Rockville, in this state.
II. NJ. Clabaugh, at Taueytown, on Sunday
night was awakened by the Earring of his
house, and concluded the 1000 pound weight
of his gas fixtures had fallen down. Lewis
Cash, near Middleburg, heard several sounds
like explosions; VIM. II. Hooper, of Frank
lin district, was also aroused by the shaking
of his house, and similar reports came from
all parts of the county.
The tremor that shook the Atlantic coast in
1882 or 1888, and the one that proved so dis
astrous at Charlestown on August 81, last,
were also felt at Westminster, and the shak-
inns recently experienced may be due to an
earthquake. There are some, however, who
believe that it all resulted from electrical
causes At all events, no damage was done,
and the city can stand such earthquakes
every day in the year. q
SENSATIONAL REPORTS.
On. Monday a dispatch was sent to thu.
Baltimore EUening Ne,rs, stating that an
earthquake shock had been experienced in
Westminster and the county, and related the
experiences of Congressman Shaw and Mes
srs. H. vanderford, E. Maekley and H. NJ.
Clabaugh, Just about as above, and adding
that the shocks were quite perceptible.
From this plain and concise statement, the
following dispatch was made up by some
sensational reporter in Baltimore and sent to
the New York World, in which it appeared
on Tuesday morning:
SPECIAL TO THE WORLD.
BALTIMORE Jan. S-Between and o'clock this
morning the residents in Westminster nd through
out Western Maryland were rudely awakened from
rocked backward and forward and many of the in
mates believing them about TO tumble, grabbed up
their ehiidren ana IN ~ eet ge stared peS
b6rs who stood in little groups ehatterins with the
cold and in terrified tones asking one another lift
was over The thermometer was only s degrees
above zero and the scanty clothing of many render
ed impossible for them 10 Tema out 81 aoors
their homes There they found everything topsy-
turvy dishes of every description scattered oyer the
fioor and broken pieces of china mingled with the
Shattered frames Of pictures which had been shaken
from the walls
The first intiination of the first earthquake shock
were two terrific reports following in quick success
sion. Immediately after these reports the houses
began to rock. This lasted for a, minute or two,
after which there was q low rumbling sound. Up
to this writing there has been no repetition of the
quake. All day long the country people have been
Of them met would be asked II he she had felt the
shock. 1t was learned from these people that they
in Westminster Mr. II. NJ. Clabaugh, at Taneytown.
twelve miles away says that he. first heard noise
which he thought was the, falling of a thousand
Mound weight attached to his gasometer. Imme-
diateiy after this his house shook back and forth.
Congressman Shaw said he was awakened by
noise that sounded like the blasting of rocks and
his house shook so much that he feared it would
come to the ground. With the exception of a few
chimneys being partly demolished no damage was
done to the exterior OF the houses. The people
very much excited, and many say they Will not go
bed % s se S WI b 5o!se Il q S
night. No shock was felt in Baltimore.
This is but sample of the sensational and
false reports that are served to their readers
of nearly all the daily journals of the coun-
try. About one half that is published by
them is about as near the truth as the above
report in the World is to the real seismic dis
turbapces in Westminster.
Persons in New York, having relatives
here, read the dispatch and Immediately
wrote for particulars One letter from .
gentleman to his sister here, said "We
have Just read IN the morning paper OF tne
earthquake in Westminster, and We are very
anxious to hear how it affected those athome.
According to the Geographic news there were
no serious results, but in Mas physical con-;
dition we fear there may be some bad effects,
and are consequently worried. His wife
also wrote-"I know you are all frightened,
as an earthquake is no triae. Do write at
once.n
W. S. Myer & Bro. received letter from
New York, jnquiring what damage was done
to their mill, and alady Of Westminster, visit
ing in New York, wrote home for particulars
of the earthquake.